Cane dues to farmers

Central Government has given incentives to sugar sector so far to facilitate payment of cane dues to farmers. The incentives are expected to improve the liquidity position of the industry reportedly
stressed by sustained surpluses of production over domestic consumption for the last four years. These steps include: Scheme for extending financial assistance to sugar undertakings, Incentive for marketing and promotion of raw sugar production targeted for exports,
Ethanol Blending with Petrol programme, Hike in import duty and Soft
Loan scheme. The government notified the scheme envisaging interest
free loans worth Rs 6600 crore as additional working capital to sugar
mills for clearance of cane price arrears of previous sugar seasons
and timely settlement to cane price of current sugar season to
sugarcane farmers. Interest burden is estimated at Rs 2750 crores
over next five years would be borne by the government through Sugar
Development Fund.